A time capsule letter for one year from now, written while you still remember how this feels
Written by hand · Sealed until the day you choose · Sent as one link
A year changes more than you expect, and the odd part is how quickly you forget what the old version of you was worried about. A good time capsule letter holds the small, current details: what you're dealing with this week, who is in your life, what you hope for but haven't said out loud.
Free · Pick the day it opens · Stays sealed until then
Ways to begin
“It's the last week of December, and right now I'm sitting at the kitchen table wondering whether I made the right call about the job. By the time you read this, you'll know.”
“Hi, future me. Today I'm going to write down what I'm afraid of, what I'm looking forward to, and three things I'd bet will still be true next year.”
“One year ago today, we were still figuring things out. I'm writing this now so that next year we can see how far we've come.”
What to write
1. Write down the ordinary present: your job, where you live, what you're worried about, who you talk to most. These are the details you'll have forgotten in a year.
2. Make a few predictions you can actually check, like where you'll be working or whether a certain problem will be solved, and leave room to see how wrong or right you were.
3. Ask your future self two or three real questions, such as whether you finally did the thing you keep putting off, instead of giving yourself a long list of resolutions.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What should I put in a letter to open in a year?
Start with how you feel right now and what's taking up your head. Then add a few goals, a couple of predictions, and a question or two for your future self. Keep it specific enough that you'll recognise this moment when you read it back.
Q. Can I make sure the letter can't be opened until exactly one year from now?
Yes. Set an opening date when you seal the letter, and it unlocks at 00:00 on that day. You can also add a password, so only people you tell can open it. It's sent as one link by text, email or any messenger, and writing, sealing and sending are free.